Fatal crashes in Craighead County, Arkansas
In 2024, 22 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Craighead County, Arkansas, up from 10 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 163 fatal crashes and 185 deaths, the 5th most of 75 counties in Arkansas.
19 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 19.5 across Arkansas in 2024; 16.8 against 19.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 115,852, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Arkansas.
Deaths in Craighead County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 22 |
| 2023 | 9 | 10 |
| 2022 | 17 | 26 |
| 2021 | 18 | 19 |
| 2020 | 17 | 20 |
| 2019 | 17 | 18 |
| 2018 | 17 | 18 |
| 2017 | 16 | 17 |
| 2016 | 17 | 18 |
| 2015 | 16 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Craighead County
US 49 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Craighead County from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 29 deaths. The 7 roads listed held 63% of all fatal crashes in Craighead County from 2015 to 2024; 1 is an interstate, 2 US routes, 4 state highways. 73% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 27% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 49 | 27 | 29 | 8 | |
| 2 | State Highway 18 | 26 | 35 | 10 | |
| 3 | US 63 | 16 | 22 | 4 | |
| 4 | State Highway 91 | 12 | 12 | 2 | no page |
| 5 | I-555 | 10 | 11 | 2 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | no page |
| 7 | State Highway 141 | 5 | 5 | 0 | no page |
Jonesboro had 50% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 81 of 163.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Jonesboro 81. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Craighead County
163 fatal crashes in Craighead County, Arkansas from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.4%
- Feb2.5%
- Mar8.6%
- Apr8.6%
- May9.8%
- Jun9.2%
- Jul9.2%
- Aug9.2%
- Sep7.4%
- Oct12.3%
- Nov9.2%
- Dec6.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Craighead County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 52%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 12%, a rollover in 5.5%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 85 | 52% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 38 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 19 | 12% |
| Rollover | 9 | 5.5% |
| Other | 9 | 5.5% |
| Cyclist | 2 | 1.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.6% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Craighead County compare with Arkansas
The largest difference from Arkansas: from 2015 to 2024, 41% of fatal crashes in Craighead County were on rural roads, against 63% across Arkansas. Also above the Arkansas share: intersections. Below it: unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Arkansas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 163 crashes.
| Craighead | Arkansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 41% | 63% | below the Arkansas share |
| At or near an intersection | 28% | 15% | above the Arkansas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 34% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 27% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Speeding | 22% | 22% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.1% | 3.6% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 54% | below the Arkansas share |
| Hit-and-run | 1.2% | 3.9% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 14% | 15% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 10% | 11% | about the same as the Arkansas share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Craighead County, Arkansas
- How many people died in car accidents in Craighead County in 2024?
- 22 people died in 19 fatal crashes in Craighead County, Arkansas, in 2024, up from 10 in 2023. That is 19 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 19.5 across Arkansas. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Craighead County?
- US 49 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Craighead County from 2015 to 2024: 27, with 29 deaths.
- How many fatal crashes in Craighead County involved a drinking driver?
- 42 of 163 fatal crashes in Craighead County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 27% across Arkansas.
Other counties in Arkansas with a page
- Pulaski County
- Washington County
- Benton County
- Garland County
- Faulkner County
- White County
- Sebastian County
- Saline County
- Crittenden County
- Jefferson County
- Lonoke County
- Hot Spring County
All fatal crashes in Arkansas, with every county ranked.
Where the Craighead County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Craighead County (county code 31). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/arkansas/craighead-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”